Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)
“We are the Shepherds”
Introduction
- And so, it begins again tonight: God, the creator of the universe is stepping into the world
- He is not coming into the world in a limo or on chariots of pure gold
- He is coming to the most humble place in the most humble possible way
- He is stripping away every possible HUMAN trapping to teach us about HEAVENLY things
- He is born to a woman little more than a child herself under difficult circumstances
- The family is returning to a tiny town to be counted in the Roman census because Joseph is from the lineage and house of King David whose home town is Bethlehem
- There isn’t even a place for them to find shelter as she gives birth to this infant version of God Almighty
- The only place they can find to take shelter is a manger because all the inns were full due to the census.
- Basically, they were bunking down with the animals for the night
- It quite literally is the most humble way that God could come to earth.
- And God chose to reveal Himself to the most humble people on earth, the lowly shepherds
- God purposely chose to START with the humblest to tell the greatest story of all time
- Two things happened on that night
- The shepherds heard the message first
- The shepherds preached the message first
1. The shepherds heard the message first
- It is no accident that the shepherds were the first to hear about Christ’s birth
- He sent the angel of the Lord to personally meet with the shepherds
- And these rough, tough cowboys were very afraid and yet even more humbled
- These men were used to fighting off wolves and other predators and were fearless
- So, for them to be this afraid, means that God really got their attention
- The angels knew they were afraid so the first words out of their mouth was:
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- This calmed the shepherds and let them know that they were deliberately chosen
- Sometimes when we think about what God is asking us to do here it is frightening
- How are we going to get everything done? How can we do more?
- Where will we get clothes from? Can we afford oil? Windows? Buildings? A new roof?
- And God says to us “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you whatever you need”
- That is the message God is giving us – whatever we need in the service of Him he will provide
- These shepherds had no idea what was coming that night. It was a routine night on duty
- That’s the way it is with God: He comes up with things when we least expect it.
- If you asked me where we would be with this church four years ago, I never would have guessed that this is where we would end up.
- The shepherds would have been out in the countryside far from town so they were picked specifically by God to receive the news first
- Were they picked because of their high standing in government or religious leadership?
- NO, what if God HAD used the government to announce the birth? He would have been killed.
- God knew that the shepherds would carry the message in a way that was safe for the baby
- God picked them to hear the news because He knew what they would do with the news
- I believe God has picked Biltmore Baptist church to help people because He knows what we will do with it.
- He didn’t call the nearby churches that have much larger head count or cash flow
- Instead, he called a humble church because we would hear Him and respond obediently
- Praise God for how He used the humble shepherds to hear His good news and praise God for how He uses the humble Biltmore church to hear His call.
2. The shepherds preached the message first
- I think it’s easy to see why God picked the shepherds to receive the news first
- What did they do with the news? They spread it fast and far and wide
- “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
- And now it comes to us to do the same
- “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
- This is the message for tonight: A SAVIOR HAS COME INTO THE WORLD
- This is a world right now that is in desperate need of a savior
- People don’t always have faith; they need to see a sign that this is really true
- The angels gave the shepherds a sign: “a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”
- We have been given so many signs here that God is at work that we mostly take them for granted.
- We need to embrace the signs that God has given us and point others to Jesus Christ
- Before the angels were finished with the shepherds, they gave them an incredible gift
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- We don’t exactly get a view into heaven, but I have seen a glimpse of heaven in the hundreds of happy faces that have come through this ministry
- The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus just as the angels had said
- The shepherds were effective getting the message out
- “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
- Can we be so bold to take what we learn tonight and get the message out far and wide?
- We have another opportunity to start fresh with another church year
- We have opportunities to meet new people and tell them this story
- And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
- This is the gift that we have been given on this glorious night
- We are the shepherds tonight; God has chosen us to hear this message
- Not what are you going to do about it? Where will you take this message
- Who will you tell?
- We start over each year with the birth of Jesus
- We celebrate by eating and drinking and partying and giving and receiving gifts
- But this gift we have been given tonight through God’s Word is what matters
- Make this night count: spread the good news far and wide
- We have seen what the Lord hath made known unto us.
- And now, like the shepherds of old, may the world see what we have seen.